DAY TWO-THE POTHOLE SERIES

 

The Pothole of Unexpected Loss and Sorrow...

 The First Big Bump!

 I am confident that when I mention this first pothole...the pothole of unexpected loss and sorrow...I am not catching anyone off guard with the news that life can bring you sorrow. In fact, in the third chapter of Genesis, we see sorrow and pain enter the world due to the sin of Adam and Eve when God says to the woman, "I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; in pain you shall bring forth children."  And thus, pain and sorrow took on dimension in the lives of us all...until that time that we return to dust.

But what is sorrow and how should the pain of unexpected loss effect us and our lives? The Bible teaches us that sorrow is the uneasiness or pain of mind which is produced by the loss of any good; or it is the frustrated hopes of good or expected loss of happiness that leads one to grieve or be sad; however, I am not speaking here of the sorrow that comes due to the natural ebb and flow of life. If you have ever lost a parent or grandparent to death in their ripe old age of late seventies, eighties or nineties, you indeed will experience the sorrow of loss of a loved one... one who meant so much to you as a cherished member of your family; however, due to their age and possible physical health at the time of their passing, you probably were expecting them to pass, maybe even hoping for such so they would no longer suffer in their degenerative state. And because of our sinful world order, you will be sorrowful, sad and grieve them and the loss that you have incurred with them gone...but even in those moments, life tells you to press on for at some time, you too will stand at heaven's door and be ushered into eternity.

But how do we deal with that unexpected loss when someone you love is quickly snatched from life...a child that is lost to cancer or a defective heart at a tender age; a teenage son or daughter killed in a senseless car wreck by a drunk driver; a mother of 3 children who dies of breast cancer at age 34; a son killed on the battlefield at age 22...and the list could go on and on. For we all have been devastated when someone we know, someone close to us, is ripped from the fabric of our lives, leaving behind a tattered soul that cannot move beyond the tragedy. That loss which creates such a  BIG, EMPTY HOLE often brings such pain and sorrow that we blame God and turn our back on the one we need the most to see us through such pain.

For Jesus himself was not immune to such unexpected loss...for when he came to the town of Bethany, the home of his good friend Lazarus, Mary came out to meet Jesus and took him to the grave of her brother. Scripture says, "Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping and the Jews who came with her weeping, his spirit groaned within him and he was troubled." John 11:33 And in verse 35 of this same chapter we see the humanity of Jesus..."Jesus wept." John 11:35  Jesus had to deal with the great pain and the unexpected loss of his good friend, and he did as we all would do...He cried, releasing the pain and sorrow that dwelt inside. But more than that, He knew that God wanted more to be experienced in this situation than the loss of a loved one. God wanted all to know His power and the power given to the Son ...and in knowing this, we might come to the belief that God's power can overcome any loss and is far greater than any pain that might beset us... (End of part One)

I have known many people that have struck the pothole of unexpected loss. They endure to this day the great and awful pain that comes with such loss. They loved so much and had built their life around that person (mother, father, husband, wife, child, etc) in such a way that upon the death of that loved one, they ceased to live. Now, they pass through this life in a slow and pain-filled existence, just waiting for their turn to be visited by the Grim Reaper. Their joy is gone and, too often, even their love for the Lord has been snuffed out, void of even a smoldering ember to re-light their way back to their Heavenly Father. But there is hope for anyone who has hit the pothole of unexpected loss and pain...just turn in the Bible to the writings of Paul as he shared the great hope of the coming of Jesus with his Thessalonians  brothers and sisters when he writes, "But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope."

In this brief passage concerning the return of Christ, we are told not to be sorrowful, rather to trust in the Father and the word of Jesus who told us that He would come again to reclaim His own, "for where He is we shall dwell also."  And in that truth, WE FIND OUR HOPE!!!!

Yes, we may hit this pothole that will seek to wreck our life as one we love is taken unexpectedly from us; but that does not define us or in any way diminish the Fathers' love for us. We must choose to trust that God wants us to experience more from our loss that might have ever been gained by holding on to that great love...for in letting go, we can come to love Him more and learn to lean on Him for all of life's catastrophes. In fact, as Paul finishes the passage of 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, he concludes, "Therefore comfort one another with these words."

Maybe, you have seen your life upended and torn apart by the pothole of unexpected loss and pain, but our God is bigger than your loss and far greater to heal and take away your pain...You just have to be willing to let him take control of the steering wheel...and why not? There are probably more potholes in the road of life just ahead; so let Him who has the power and the knowledge get you to where you want to go... Because He Loves You with an EVERLASTING LOVE!!!!

Trusting the Lord....Dodging the Potholes,

WPQ

 

 

 

THE POTHOLE SERIES...REVISITED.

 

THE POTHOLE SERIES....Living Beyond the Potholes on the Road of Life!

 

For most of the better years of my life, I have spent my time traveling across the United States along the roads of commerce in search of a sale. Whether it was hawking eyeglass frames, PoeticArt, insurance or who can remember what else, I have encountered more than my fair share of potholes and have been left to deal with the destruction that they leave in their wake...no doubt you have too!

These insidious holes in the road are brought about by erosion, freeze and thaw events and the sheer number of vehicles that pass over a certain portion of a road, day after day after day...well, it is no wonder that left untreated or unrepaired, they lie in wait for that unsuspecting motorist to pass by and then they pounce...not literally mind you, but it sure fills that way sometimes. How often have you, like me, been humming down the Interstate, the sound of the clickety-clackety of your tires keeping the beat to the song on the radio when suddenly, without any warning, an unseen pothole consumes your tire, even if only for a split second, jarring your front teeth, making your contacts pop out or your toupee sit sideways. The steering wheel is contorted in a devilish fashion as your fight to regain control of your car, all the while trying to maintain your composure as you reassure yourself that all is "OKAY."

BUT IS IT?

As you continue your journey, you notice that the steering wheel seems to vibrate in your hands and if you take your hands off the wheel for just a moment, the car starts to change lanes without you steering in that direction. Now, you notice a funny noise coming from underneath the car that you have not heard before. The smooth and noise free ride that you have always enjoyed is somehow quickly diminished and all because of that unseen, man and nature-made evil entity called a POTHOLE.

Some would say, "SO WHAT?" That's just life so deal with it...and by and large I would agree. But what if the pothole were a metaphor for what happens to us in real life when we are cruising along, enjoying the life we have chosen...and what if that pothole (and others like it) derails us, knocks us off the road of life and puts us in the junkyard of despair, loneliness and hopelessness long before the end of our journey...WHAT THEN?

Which leads me to ask ....have you ever considered The Five Potholes of Life and where they may lead? Jesus did...the Bible does...and we should. So for the next five lessons or so, follow along with me on the road of life and see if you may have become a victim of one of these five potholes...

1) The Pothole of Unexpected Loss & Sorrow

2) The Pothole of Rejection

3) The Pothole of Bitterness

4) The Pothole of Failure

5) The Pothole of Guilt & Regret

 

Happy Motoring...Living Beyond the Potholes,

WPQ

A Poem for Easter

 

Will You Willingly Bear His Cross ….
 
It was a day, not like any other,
As angry mobs began to stir.
For the prophet of Nazareth
And His disciples; they gathered to confer.
 
This day was just another Thursday;
And now, with the crowds left behind.
The Son of God sent His faithful two;
A respite they were to find.
 
A place to gather with the Teacher,
A place of quiet and sweet repose.
Away from the seeking, pleading throngs,
To a shelter that few ever come to know.
 
So sheltered in that small Upper Room,
With His beloved disciples gathered ‘round…
The King of all the highest realms,
Now knelt on Holy ground.
 
With a towel tightly girded around his waist,
In the shadows of flickering candlelight….
Was a wash bowl filled with water used
To wash the feet of those that night.
 
For Jesus taught to each one there,
As he washed and dried their feet;
That if you seek to be truly His,
You must seek other’s needs to meet.
 
For time is quickly slipping away;
Will you look back to count the loss?
For if you seek to follow Jesus Christ,
Will You Willingly Bear His Cross?
 
W. Patrick Queen © April 2026

When Storms Arise...Where Do You Turn?

Last night, I was sound asleep, with not a mind-numbing care in the world! Then, there was a loud crack of thunder that rattled the windows in my bedroom, and I quickly awoke to the sound of thunderous rain and howling winds. I was totally caught by surprise, and though I knew rain was in the forecast, I was not expecting any violent thunderstorms….which got me to thinking about life in general.

We all like to think that we have some infallible plans for when storms begin to howl in our lives…we make contingency plans for such occurrences. If you lose your job, you have money in the bank, saved for such an occasion…at least you hope, until you’ve found another job. Or if unexpected sickness should befall you or a loved one, you have health insurance to help meet your financial obligations and keep you on your feet. But….try as we may, we can’t plan for every emergency that might come our way. In fact, sometimes a storm arises that we could not have forecast or prepared for in advance. So what do we do or where do we turn?

Scripture tells us to “SEEK THE LORD WHILE HE MAY BE FOUND” and I, as a follower of Christ, believe that He is with us ALL THE TIME; however, He seems to draw nearer to us when storm clouds begin to form, and we reach out to Him in prayer and by reading His Word. It is in these times that our need for Him is increased, especially if we have tried to weather the impending calamity of a storm on our own. Was our Savior not asleep on the boat with His disciples when they woke Him up and pleaded with Him to do something about their impending doom?  And after Jesus spoke to the winds and calmed the seas, Jesus said to them, “O ye of little faith?”

In the Old Testament, we read in Psalm 107:28-31, ^“Then they cry to the Lord in their trouble, and he saves them. He calms the storm and stills the waves. What a blessing is that stillness as he brings them safely into harbor!  Oh, that these men would praise the Lord for his loving-kindness and for all of his wonderful deeds!” (TLB)  

Maybe today, you find yourself in such a situation. Despite all your best attempts to be prepared for all situations and any impending storms…YOU HAVE BEEN OVERWHELMED by the waves and the winds, and you need to find a peace and a calm….and the safe harbor you so desperately long to call HOME. If that is you, then let go of the helm;  turn it over to the Master of the Sea who will guide you to where He wants you to be…SAFE AND AT HOME WITH YOUR SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST. For He alone can bring about the calm that you need and the peace that you will find in Him. Who else but the CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE can speak to the storm and bring about the calm that you long to have in your life….YES, STORMS WILL COME AND  YOU WILL HAVE ALL YOU NEED TO WEATHER ANY STORM…  WHEN YOU CALL ON JESUS!

 

Living in the calm….prepared for any storm,

WPQ

 

Poem for the day….

When the storms of life beset you
And the gale winds begin to blow
Just turn your ship into the storm
And trust in the ONE you know....
 
With Jesus at your helm of life
No matter the stormy sea;
He will steer you safely home
To His peace and harmony.
 
And once again on solid ground
His praise your lips will sing;
In wondrous hallelujahs
To Christ, your Lord and King!
 
September ©2017

 

LIVING A LIFESTYLE OF WORSHIP & PRAISE

 So, let's bring our study of PREPARING FOR ETERNITY...WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS? to a close with this blog as we take a closer examination of Peter's last verses regarding how we are to be living. He says in verse 8, "If all these things are in you and growing, you will never fail to be useful to God. You will produce the kind of fruit that should come from your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." (Easy to Read)

And isn't that our purpose on this earth....to be useful to God as we live and produce fruit...as we seek to tell others about Jesus and His sacrifice for us, as we look forward to spending eternity with Him. And all that is ENTIRELY POSSIBLE, if we learn more about who Jesus is, and as we walk with Him in our daily lives, making EVERY effort to be more like Him (godliness) and to show the love of God to those who are living life on their own terms; totally and selfishly without regard for God's great love and sacrifice. I mean, if we can somehow earn our way into God's PERFECT Heaven; then what was the cross for and why did Jesus come to earth just so He could die the most horrible death possible? 

Peter goes on to say in verse 9, "But those who don’t grow in these blessings are blind. They cannot see clearly what they have. They have forgotten that they were cleansed from their past sins. Yes, we will miss the blessings that God has stored up for us both here on earth as well as in Heaven if we fail to worship Him for all He has done for us...both now and in eternity to come. 

Imagine, if you will, you are in a upcoming dramatic play...what is your first act of getting ready to perform the play...LEARN YOUR LINES, THEN RUN THEM WITH SOMEONE ELSE; THEN PRACTICE YOUR BLOCKING ON STAGE, THEN THE DRESS REHERSAL..NOW YOU ARE READY FOR OPENING NIGHT.

The same is true for your preparation for Heaven....first you picture WORSHIP and then you PRACTICE WORSHIP as laid out in Psalm 119:164, which reads, "Seven times a day and all day long do I praise You because of Your righteous decrees." (AMPC) Yes, the more we visualize our acts of worship, the more we are prepared to practice our acts of worship and receive the blessings that God has ALREADY PREPARED FOR US....He is just waiting for us to do our part so that He may do His part!!!! 

In fact, if you will closely examine the last verses of this Scripture passage in verse 10 & 11, you will find seven blessings that are provided to us as we use the tools we have in our toolbox to do God's work and to worship Him in true honor and praise for all HE HAS DONE AND ALL THAT HE WILL DO TO COME...THEY ARE,

GODLY MATURITY

GROWING PRODUCTIVITY

GREATER CLARITY

GRATEFUL MEMORY

GENUINE STABILITY

GUARANTEED SECURITY

and probably the most important blessing of all....

GLORIOUS ETERNITY!!!!

So, let's crack open our toolbox, knowing we have EVERYTHING WE NEED TO LIVE A SUCCESSFUL AND GLORIOUS LIFE FOR OUR HEAVENLY FATHER....AS WE DO THE GOOD DEEDS SET BEFORE US AND HE RECEIVES THE GLORY, HONOR AND PRAISE HE IS DUE!!!

WORKING FOR JESUS...WAITING ON HEAVEN'S REWARD,

WPQ

Brotherly Affection Gives Way to Agape LOVE

So as we as we wrap up our study of PREPARING FOR ETERNITY, the apostle Peter gives us our last two tools for use in building our toolbox for our earthly gain and our heavenly work that prepares us for our upcoming job titles in God's Heavenly Kingdom. The first is Brotherly Affection; a sincere and active love for our brothers and sisters in Christ! I mean, if we cannot show affection, love and a sincere desire to know and grow with those of our kindred Spirit, how can we ever be expected to show the LOVE of GOD for those still lost in a world of sin and despair? THE SIMPLE ANSWER...WE CAN'T!!!!

In fact, Peter tells again in his first letter, 1 Peter 1:22, which reads, "Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart." ..Or we read in Romans 12:9-10, "Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Out do one another in showing honor."  In fact, there is no better way to show true brotherly affection for each other than to show respect for those members of the faith who may or may not agree with you in all things; but who are honestly and eagerly seeking to know Jesus more intimately as they continue their walk with Him and grow to show more brotherly affection to others in the Christian faith. 

It is here that Peter tackles the last instrument of use for us all as sojourners in this world...the gift of AGAPE LOVE...God's unselfish love that knows no boundaries and takes us from our comfort zones as we seek to live out the Great Commission given to us by our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Jesus has called us to make disciples, but His first command is to "go into all the world"...to GO so that we may SHOW...to show and to demonstrate the true love of the Father, " that whoever would believe that Jesus is the Son of God; that He bled and died on Calvary for our sins; that He was buried in a borrowed tomb, but yet, rose again on the third day...FOR THE ONE THAT HAS SUCH A FAITH HAS FORGIVENESS AND AN ETERNAL HOME WITH THE FATHER AND HIS SON, IN A DAY THAT IS COMING FOR ALL THE CHILDREN OF GOD...that man or woman or child is an extension of the AGAPE LOVE OF GOD...and will one day reign with all of Heaven and with those who belong to the family of  GOD....HALLELUJAH AND AMEN!!!!

And in conclusion, Peter further instructs us in verses 8-11 of 2 Peter 1, when he writes...If all these things are in you and growing, you will never fail to be useful to God. You will produce the kind of fruit that should come from your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But those who don’t grow in these blessings are blind. They cannot see clearly what they have. They have forgotten that they were cleansed from their past sins. My brothers and sisters, God called you and chose you to be His. Do your best to live in a way that shows you really are God’s called and chosen people. If you do all this, you will never fall. And you will be given a very great welcome into the kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, a kingdom that never ends!!! (Easy to Read Bible)

And to do all of these things, God has given you EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO LIVE FOR HIM...

HOWEVER, ALL THIS COMES TO FRUITION ONLY WHEN YOU BEGIN TO LIVE A LIFESTYLE OF WORSHIP AND PRAISE....the last requirement for you to be ALL that God meant for you to be on this earth as you prepare for ALL THAT HE HAS IN STORE FOR YOU IN HIS KINGDOM TO COME...see you again with the rest of God's plan in PREPARING YOU FOR ETERNITY!!!

FILLED MY TOOLBOX...READY TO WORK FOR THE LORD,

WPQ

BUILDING OUR TOOLBOX…READY FOR USE

As we continue in our series of the study of 2Peter 1-11, we find Peter extolling us to add these tools to our growing toolbox…and this one may be hard to use on a regular basis; BUT ONE THAT WILL BE A DIFFERENCE MAKER…IT IS THE TOOL KNOWN AS SELF CONTROL…NOT SELFISH CONTROL!

You see, these tools I just mentioned have similar nomenclatures, but are used in TOTALLY DIFFERENT WAYS. First, Self Control, pulls in the reins of how we interact with those we may know and love…OUR FAMILY. When we use self-control in dealing with our family, we make our decisions and have our interactions with regard to what is best for our mom, dad, or other siblings…we want what they want, if in is good for them as well as for us. Do we hog the bathroom as we get ready for the new day…or do we make it a point to get in and out so that others have time for doing what they need to do to get ready for school or work? Do we look for opportunities to help around the house…or do we leave a mess and just walk away, dirty dishes in the sink and food left on the kitchen counters?

You see, the opposite of self-control is SELFISH control…a time when we make it ALL ABOUT WHAT WE WANT OR NEED, WITH LITTLE, IF ANY REGARD FOR OUR FAMILY OR OTHERS WITH WHOM WE INTERACT? God’s Word has plenty to say regarding self-control, but one of my favorite's follows: “Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control.” Proverbs 25:28 (NIV)  

So, which tool will you be packing in your toolbox? SELF- CONTROL OR ITS EVIL LOOK ALIKE….SELFISH CONTROL?  IT’S  YOUR CHOICE!!!

The next tool Peter tells us to add is the tool known as STEADFAST…which means to us as believers….UNWAVERING FAITH, PERSEVERANCE TO ENDURE HARDSHIPS WITH A RESOLUTE HEART AND THE ABILITY TO STAND FIRM IN OUR FAITH THROUGH OUR GODLY ACTIONS; especially as we commit ourselves to doing God’s will when LIFE seems to overwhelm us and seeks  to pull us away from being obedient to our Father. The apostle Paul shares this verse with us from Philippians 4:1, which reads, “Therefore, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord, my beloved. So, if you are going to call yourself a true believer in Christ, the tool of STEADFASTNESS will constantly be at use in your walk with Christ!

As we continue to walk with our Lord, Peter extols us to add a few more tools to our toolbox of FAITH as we combat the wiles of the devil as he seeks to devour those who would try to live life on their own terms. And our next tool is one that I feel many Christians fail to use properly…it is the tool known as GODLINESS!

And how might one describe GODLINESS? It is what a believer seeks to do as one aligns their thoughts, actions, feelings and interactions with the world, to display an inward peace by imitating our Lord, Jesus Christ. IN SHORT, OUR ACTIONS REFLECT THE CHARATERISTICS OF GOD….WHAT WOULD JESUS DO? Paul, in his teachings to young Timothy says in Philippians 4:8, “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”

But, we must be careful that our desire to be a godly Christian does not come off as an affront to others that see our attitude as “holier than thou” or that might give us a lofty perch that allows us to look down on others who might be struggling in their walk with Jesus. So be GODLY in all you say and do…not GRUMPY AND GROUCHY THAT OTHERS ARE NOT AS GODLY AS YOU BELIEVE THEY SHOULD BE. So, how’s your toolbox shaping up; and more importantly, are you acquiring these tools…and if you are, HOW ARE YOU USING THEM FOR YOUR GOOD AND GOD’S GLORY?

Come back tomorrow as we add our last tools and examine our need to live a LIFESTYLE OF WORSHIP…BOTH NOW ON EARTH, AS WELL AS IN OUR PREPARATION FOR HEAVEN….

LOADING UP MY TOOLBOX….READY TO WORK FOR THE KINGDOM,

WPQ